News

Authorities suggest gondola may have been illegal

An aerial lift which plummeted 20 metres to the ground on Friday, killing one person on board and injuring four others, may have been operated without a permit, the authorities suggest. On Monday, investigators will look into records at city hall in Špindleruv Mlýn to see if the lift was legally registered and approved and whether it fulfilled technical requirements. Without a permit, the owner of a the mountain cottage Bumbálka could face a fine of up to 10 million crowns. The question of why anyone was on board at all - when the gondola was designed only for transporting baggage, skis and ski equipment - has also not yet been answered. According to some reports, people using the lift in the area may have been common practice.

Interior minister to decide on Lessy's return

The outgoing interior minister, Martin Pecina, will decide in the coming week on the possible return of former police president Petr Lessý, who was cleared recently of slander and abuse of office charges. Theoretically, a decision to reinstate Mr Lessý would leave the country with two police presidents. After his dismissal last year, Lessý was succeeded by the current police president Martin Červíček. Should it come to two presidents, the interior minister said he would launch administrative proceedings to determine who should head the police force.

Okamura backs Babiš for ministerial post

Newly-elected MP Tomio Okamura, the head of the parliamentary group Dawn of Direct Democracy, has said fellow politician and ANO 2011 leader Andrej Babiš should be the country's next finance minister regardless of whether he failed or passed a screening law blocking those who cooperated with the communist era secret police, the StB, from holding public office. Speaking on a TV debate programme, Mr Okamura stressed that almost 20 percent of the electorate voted for ANO 2011 and that voters "expected" its leader to take up a ministerial post. Mr Babiš, a billionaire magnate, is listed in Slovakia as having collaborated with the secret police under the former regime. He has categorically denied such cooperation and has gone to court over the issue.

Christmas markets open on first day of Advent

Christmas markets officially opened and Christmas trees were lit in many areas, namely public squares, on Sunday, the first day of Advent, the season marked by Christians preparing for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. The weekend saw a marked interest by both locals and tourists, for example, at Prague's Old Town Square, a traditional site for Christmas markets, where mulled wine and roasted chestnuts are sold as well as other food and drink and where various attractions can be viewed.

Highway permits for 2014 in effect

Highway vignettes or stickers for 2014, permitting driving on the country's main highways, can be used a month early - as of December 1. The price of the annual permit, last hiked in 2012, remains 1,500 crowns. A Transport Ministry official confirmed the sticker for 2014 could be bought at most gas stations as well as post offices: a total of around 7,000 outlets.

Police charge Bechyně man with murder

Police have charged a 44-year-old suspect with the fatal stabbing of a woman in the south Bohemian town of Bechyně on Saturday. The two are believed to have lived together and to have gotten into an argument. If found guilty, the man could face a sentence of at least 10 years behind bars.

NHL action: Plekanec helps sink Leafs

The Boston Bruin's David Krejčí picked up two assists on Saturday as his team downed Columbus; the final score was 3:1.Tomáš Plekanec, meanwhile, scored for Montreal in the Habs' win 4:2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Weather

The beginning of the week should see mostly clear skies with daytime temperatures reaching highs of 4 degrees Celsius.